Page 6 of Awoken
The nuns flanking Sister Elspeth started nodding in agreement. News of Leanna’s imminent departure had caused quite a stir it appeared.
Leanna regarded Sister Elspeth coldly. Heat flashed across her chest as anger surged once more. She didn’t care what this sour-faced witch thought of her, and she didn’t care if every last one of the nuns here questioned her faith.
Right now, she needed to be at home in Duncaith.
She wanted to see her mother and sisters again, to lay her father’s body to rest. She had no patience for this woman’s judgement, and she was about to tell her so in very blunt terms when Mother Shona’s voice interrupted them. “That’s enough, Sister Elspeth.”
A small figure glided through the crowd of nuns. They parted to allow the abbess to approach, and Sister Elspeth hurriedly stepped back, her mouth compressing.
“Sister Leanna grieves for her father’s sudden death … we shall not make this parting more difficult for her.”
Mother Shona stopped before Leanna, meeting her eye.
Wordlessly, Leanna dropped to one knee, waiting while the abbess blessed her. When she rose to her feet, Leanna met Mother Shona’s eye and guilt twisted in her breast. Unlike Sister Elspeth, the abbess had only ever treated her well.
Leanna averted her gaze. She should really feel more gratitude for all that Mother Shona had done for her. Leanna’s life at Kilbride was much better than many folk living upon this isle could hope for. She worked hard, but she always had food to fill her belly and a warm fire to keep the winter’s chill at bay. She had company and a bed of her own.
Leanna knew she should be grateful, yet at that moment she couldn’t wait to be away from Kilbride. It suddenly felt as if the walls were closing in on her. The shock of her father’s death had ripped something from her, torn away all pretense.
The truth was that she wasn’t completely happy here.
The tightness in Leanna’s chest increased as panic now wormed its way up. She couldn’t leave the order. In just a couple of months, she would be expected to take her vows of perpetuity. Suddenly, she felt as if she were standing in a dark dungeon watching the doors slowly close before her. Soon, she’d be trapped here forever.
Maybe this trip back to Duncaith, seeing her family again, would make her appreciate Kilbride more. Her mother was prone to whining, and her sisters bickered constantly.
Probably, she would miss the peace of this abbey.
She certainly hoped so—for she wasn’t sure what she’d do if the opposite occurred. What if she never wanted to come back here?
After a long pause, Leanna raised her gaze once more, meeting the abbess’s eye. “Thank ye for allowing this journey, Mother Shona,” she murmured, forcing down her simmering panic. “I won’t linger at Duncaith. As soon as father has been buried, I will return.” She inwardly cringed as she said these words, sure her voice would betray her.
The abbess nodded, her gaze holding Leanna’s fast. “Take these days to reflect, Sister Leanna,” she said softly.
Shame filtered over Leanna then, causing her cheeks to warm. Like the other sisters here, she hated to disappoint Mother Shona. The woman wasn’t like any other she’d met. Gently spoken and kind-hearted, the abbess also possessed a will of iron.
Mother Shona had a shadowy past, and after being elected as abbess, she’d revealed that she knew how to wield a knife, a sword, a longbow, and a quarter-staff. Her time living rough on the mainland years earlier had given her a set of unusual skills. Unlike most women, the abbess could also defend herself with her bare hands if need be.
With outlaws and bands of starving men roaming the barren hills of Skye, and news of a terrible pestilence now ravaging the mainland, Mother Shona had warned them that there might come a time soon when they would need to defend these walls from outsiders.
Leanna was grateful that she’d learned to wield a longbow and defend herself if a man grabbed her. Who knew what the future would bring—even Kilbride Abbey couldn’t keep the world at bay forever. And yet, at that moment Leanna just wanted to return to Duncaith and take back the old life she’d been forced to give up.
Leanna revealed none of what lay in her heart to the abbess. She felt too ashamed. “I will reflect, Mother Shona,” she agreed, lowering her gaze.
“May the Lord grant ye a safe journey,” Mother Shona said. “Go now … the day is waning, and ye have much ground to cover.”
Leanna nodded and stepped back. As she moved toward the stables, she cast a glance right, at where Coira stood. The older woman’s expression was veiled this afternoon, and Leanna wondered if she was upset with her for going away.
Meeting the nun’s eye, Leanna offered her a weak smile. “Peace be with ye, Sister Coira … I shall see ye soon.”
However, her friend merely nodded.
3
Leanna’s Savior
ROSS CAMPBELL WATCHED the party leave Kilbride Abbey. Gaze narrowed, he tracked the five riders that trotted through the gates and onto the narrow, rutted path that led south through the hazel thicket.
Shifting position, Ross stretched out his left leg, which had gone numb. It had been an uncomfortable wait.
